University-entrance examination results day is fast approaching, and perhaps you’re feeling a little apprehensive. Are you worried about failing in your A-Levels or other university entrance examinations? Don’t lose hope! You can still get into top UK universities to study for a degree programme even if you fail.

Good news is that the UK University Clearing is a system designed to help high school/secondary school graduates like you find a place on a university degree course. This blog post will explain what the UK’s Clearing is and how you can successfully navigate it to secure your degree offer in higher education.

Clearing is essentially how UK universities fill any remaining places on their courses after the main application window has closed. This year, Clearing will operate from 5 July to 20 October 2025, where it provides a valuable opportunity for students who don’t receive offers they wanted or who don’t meet the conditions of their original offers.

You are eligible to enter clearing if you:

• don’t receive any degree offers that appealed to you,
• don’t meet the entry requirements for you conditional offers, or
• actively decline a confirmed offer from another university.

So, how do you actually go about finding a course through Clearing?

The first step is to prepare for results day. You should ensure that you have your UCAS application login details readily available and that your contact information is up-to-date. As universities will likely need to speak directly to you, you should try to be available on results day. You can then access Clearing through UCAS Hub from 1pm on A-Level results day (14 August) or 10am on Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) results day (5 August). Here, you can begin searching for courses that are available in Clearing and adding them as choices to your UCAS application.

To streamline the process, UCAS offers a helpful “Clearing Matches” service. By analysing your original course selections, qualifications, and grades, the UCAS system can suggest courses that might be a good fit for you. The second step is for you to click the “See matches” button within your UCAS Hub. You can express interest in a course through this feature which allows the university to contact you directly. However, it’s crucial not to rely solely on Clearing Matches. You should also use the UCAS search tool to explore the full range of available courses in Clearing, widening your options and increasing your chances of success.

Once you have identified courses that fit your interest, the third step is to pick up the phone and make some calls. Universities available in Clearing will want to speak to you personally to assess your suitability for the course. You should be prepared to discuss your grades, explain your interest in the subject matter, and articulate why you believe you would be a valuable addition to their student body. You should remember to have your UCAS number handy and maintain a polite and enthusiastic demeanour throughout the conversation.

On top of that, please don’t hesitate to ask questions during the calls—this shows your engagement and helps you make an informed decision. If a university offers you a place through Clearing, the fourth step is for you to add it as a Clearing choice in your UCAS application.

Finally, remember that Clearing courses tend to fill up quickly, so it’s important to be proactive and contact universities WITHOUT any delay or hesitation. Once again, if you fail in your university entrance examinations or simply do not have a secured degree offer that you like, you can still navigate the Clearing system and earn your desired university degree place in UK higher education.

Good luck with your degree search in Clearing! Happy learning!